CropKit: Empowering Small-Scale Farming

Wat het doet

CropKit is the future of smart, modular micro tractors, built on a compact electric platform tailored for small farms. It supports the gradual adoption of precision technologies, enabling farmers to stay autonomous, productive, and ecologically responsible.

Je inspriatie

I grew up in a rural area surrounded by small farms. Over the years, I witnessed how small farms are disappearing at an alarming rate. This trend is evident throughout Europe. Yet these farms are vital to biodiversity, soil health, and food sovereignty. They face a complex web of issues - from labour shortages to equipment costs - that cannot be solved with a single tool. This inspired me to design an adaptable, farmer-centred solution that reflects the real-world needs of diverse small farms and helps them remain economically and ecologically viable in a rapidly changing agricultural landscape.

Hoe het werkt

At the heart of CropKit is CropKit Base – a lightweight, silent electric platform powered by two hub motors. Its low weight reduces soil compaction while covering all core tractor functions – and more. A standardised interface allows tool-free attachment of various modules. The platform features a front lever with a custom four-bar linkage system, where the follower is integrated into the crank. This internal parallelogram keeps the coupler arm vertical, enabling precise tool height and adjustable ground clearance for different crop stages. CropKit offers three control modes: manual with CropKit Walk (like a two-wheel tractor), remote via smartphone and Wi-Fi with CropKit Remote, or fully autonomous with CropKit Pilot using RTK-GPS and an RGB-D camera. Farmers can choose or gradually upgrade their preferred autonomy level. Beyond standard tools like ploughs and cultivators, CropKit supports a wide range of modules (see image) to expand its functionality.

Ontwerpproces

CropKit evolved through months of intensive, interdisciplinary research aimed at developing meaningful and accessible technology for small-scale farming. The process involved a combination of literature analysis, interviews with biologists and farmers, a quantitative survey, hands-on field visits, and participatory discussion panels. Understanding the everyday challenges, ecological constraints, and systemic pressures of smallholder agriculture was essential to shaping a relevant and grounded solution. Concept development took place in close collaboration with robotics engineers and was continuously refined through iterative feedback from farmers. I used immersive 3D sketching in virtual reality to explore form and function, allowing farmers to interact with early-stage concepts in real-time using VR headsets. Technical components, such as the four-bar linkage and modular attachments, were rapidly prototyped using 3D printing and tested for usability and robustness. A full-scale prototype was also built and field-tested under real working conditions. Continuous exchange with farmers, biologists, and engineers informed every decision. CropKit is not just a functional platform—it is a deeply contextual system rooted in ecological, social, and practical realities.

Hoe onderscheidend is het?

CropKit was not developed in isolation but co-designed with farmers to reflect their actual needs. It challenges the conventional model of agricultural technology where automation replaces human labour. Instead, CropKit augments human skill. For example, the CropKit Float module turns the user into the guiding tool, enabling highly precise, low-strain weeding rather than relying on costly and complex machines. CropKit IQ uses edge computing and three-dimensional imaging for plant analysis, while also incorporating bioacoustic microphones to monitor field health through sound. Experts confirmed that audio landscapes often reveal more about ecosystem conditions than isolated sensors. CropKit rethinks technology’s role in agriculture: not as a replacement for farmers but as a collaborative tool. It offers modularity, affordability, and ecological intelligence, supporting regenerative farming through farmer empowerment rather than displacement.

Toekomstplannen

The next step is to secure funding to build a fully functional prototype for advanced field trials. Once Cropkit Base has been thoroughly tested, additional modules can be developed step by step. My vision is to make Cropkit widely accessible, enabling small-scale farmers to assemble their own custom toolsets. Through an open-source model and an active user community, new modules can be co-created and tested in real conditions. Cropkit is not a fixed product, but a collaborative platform designed to evolve in the hands of those who use it and drive change from the ground up.

Premi

The thesis in which I developed CropKit was awarded a perfect score of 10/10 – a distinction rarely given at TU Delft. Cropkit was also selected for presentation at Dutch Design Week and featured in the 4TU Design United e-magazine.